The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1887-10-07
USEFUL SOCIETIES.
The Origin and Progress of American
Agricultural Associations.

The Origin and Progress of American
Agricultural Associations.
The number of societies in England
holding fairs relating to agriculture
and live stock, etc., is officially stated
at one hundred and ten. The dates of
the fairs range from May 26 to Deem
Der Is. Among those are the Bath
and West of England Society, organ
lied in 1777, the first farmers club in
England. The Royal Agricultural
Society, which has exerted so wide an
influence upon improved processes and
cultivation in soil and animal farming
of the world, was founded in 1888.
It's motto was practice with Science. ;"
In 1910 England had organized a
Board of Agriculture, of which Sir
John Sinclair was president, and
Arthur Young secretary. There were
in this year eighty-one agricultural So
cieties in regular working order, and
Of one of these the Badenach and
Strathspey Society, the celebrated
Duchess of Gordon was president.
The first agricultural society formed
in America was 1.-The Philadelphia
(Pa.) Society for Promoting Agricult-
ure," Among the awards of this So
ciety in 1890 was gold medal to Mr..
Matheson for the best sample and
greatest quantity of cheese.
The first agricultural society ever
incorporated in America was the $50
ciety for the Promotion of Agriculture,
of South Carolina, established in 1885.
It's objects included, among others. the
institution of farm for experiments,
and the importation and distribution of
products suited to the climate of that
State
In New York "Society for the Ad-
vancement of Agriculture was incor-
porated in 1871, but it died at the age
of ten years.
The Society for the Promotion of
Useful Arts, in which agriculture was
first named, established in 1904, pub.
lished seven volumes of Transactions
previous to 1915. The New York State
Agricultural Society held its first regu-
lar fair in 1910, the admission being
twelve and one-half cents.
In Massachusetts, in 1903, the trus.
tees of the Massachusetts, Society fol-
Promoting Agriculture, offered among
others, premium of one hundred dol
lars, or the society's gold medal for q
cheap and effectual method of destroy
ing the canker worm. From the be-
giDnings thus noted agriculture, horti-
culture, pomology, forestry and fori-
culture have gradually increased. Ag-
ricultural societies offering premiums
are found in every State, and most of
the Territories. Popular interest is
especially active in agricultural socie-
ties in the West, and is constantly in
creasing in the South. The official list
of State, district and county agrieul-
tural fairs, held this year, not includ-
ing supplementary lists, shows a list
of S37 fairs held this year, the dates oc-
curing principally in September and
October. The four States, holding the
largest number of fairs in 1887 are,
Illinois, SO; Iowa and Ohio, 95 each.
and Indiana, 81. The premiums at the
State fairs of these States aggregate
an immense sum yearly. 1t is safe to
say the agricultural societies of the
United States have exercised a greater
influence for the advancement of agri-
culture than any other means. Farm,
Ftesd and Stocknsa1a.